Patricia, Being called a Pentecostal type Christian, does not, necessarily, make one a member of the United Pentecostal Church. The word can merely mean that the person deeply believes in the force of the Holy Spirit in his daily life. Also, not all Pentecostal services entail anything like you have described. That depends on the individual Pastor, or the Deacons, of each church. They are not the only ones that believe they are the only church that will get you to Heaven. A properly conditioned Catholic will tell you, to your face, that if you are not a Catholic, you are going straight to hell. What about the home visits of the Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Mormons, unannounced, and at the most inconvenient times? Pentecostal, or Evangelistic, Christians do not make a habit of preaching on street corners, or forcing their opinions on anyone.
I, personally, am not a member of any of these groups but, do belong to a congregation that makes a joyful noise unto the Lord, as is requested in the Bible. But we, like the Pentecostals, do not take this jubilation out into the public arena. You have never heard Ashcroft shout Hallelujah on a street corner, in the White House, or any other government building in DC, and I'll bet anything that no one ever will. You are just bitching about that denomination because you are a demo/lib and don't like Ashcroft. |
